Factors Affecting The Accuracy Of EWT

• What is the role of eyewitnesses in court?

  To provide evidence that could lead to convictions
• What factors can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

  Misleading information, post-event discussion, and anxiety
• What did Bartlett argue about memories?

  Memories are reconstructive, not accurate snapshots
• What is a schema according to Bartlett?

  Packages of information to understand the world
• How do schemas affect eyewitness testimony?

  They can lead to errors in memory reconstruction
• What term did Bartlett use for false memories?

  Confabulations
• What is substitution bias in memory recall?

  The actual memory changes completely
• What is response bias in memory recall?

  Emotional pressure alters the response given
• What is post-event discussion?

  Witnesses discussing their memories with each other
• What is memory conformity?

  Witnesses alter their testimony to match others
• How did Loftus's study demonstrate leading questions?

  By changing verbs in questions about accidents
• What was the effect of the verb "smashed" in Loftus's study?

  Participants guessed higher speeds for "smashed"
• What happened in Loftus's follow-up questionnaire?

  More participants reported seeing broken glass
• What did Gabbert's study reveal about eyewitness testimony?

  71% included items not seen in their video
• How does anxiety affect eyewitness testimony?

  It can either decrease or increase recall accuracy
• What is the weapon focus effect?

  Witnesses focus on the weapon, not the criminal
• What does the Yerkes-Dodson law suggest?

  Optimal recall occurs at moderate anxiety levels
• What was the main finding of Johnson and Scott's study?

  Knife presence reduced identification accuracy
• What did Peters's study find about recall accuracy?

  Recall was worse for identifying a nurse
• What did the study by Uvul and Kutchal reveal about eyewitness recall?

  Recall was highly accurate despite stress
• What is the cognitive interview?

  A method to improve eyewitness testimony accuracy
• What are the criticisms of lab-based eyewitness studies?

  They often lack validity and real-world consequences
• What ethical concerns exist in eyewitness research?

  Potential harm and lack of informed consent
• What should you do if you want to improve eyewitness testimony accuracy?

  Implement cognitive interview techniques
• What are the effects of misleading information on eyewitness testimony?

  • Changes actual memory (substitution bias)
  • Alters response due to emotional pressure (response bias)
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of eyewitness testimony research?

  Strengths:

  • Highlights issues with memory accuracy
  • Informs legal practices

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Low validity in lab settings
  • Ethical concerns in research